I’m skipping meals to heat my home because I can’t afford my new energy bill
A CARE worker will struggle to make it through the winter because she cannot afford her fuel bill.
Rebecca Sarah, 36, who already relies on parcels from a food bank to feed her nine-year-old daughter, was horrified when Octopus Energy said her new monthly gas and electricity bill will be £96.
And it is set to get worse after Ofgem announced on Thursday that the energy price cap will rise in April to £1,971 per year.
It means many will see their annual bills rise by £693. The increase is largely driven by soaring wholesale gas prices.
Single mum Rebecca, of Norfolk, has taken on a second job in hospitality to try to cover the extra costs, but it is still not enough.
With the cost of living soaring, she is one of hundreds of thousands of British people trapped in poverty. She often skips meals and only washes up three times a week.
Rebecca has turned to The Sun on Sunday’s Squeeze Team for help. She said: “The rising cost of heating my home is what terrifies me the most. I have no idea how we’ll manage.”
Explaining the steps she already takes, Rebecca added: “I turn the heater down to 13C when my daughter is at school and wrap myself in blankets.
“I keep curtains closed, turn off heaters when I don’t need them and I try to limit my food and skip meals.
“My daughter has a place in a breakfast club and free school meals. For Christmas all she asked for was a doll and sticker book.”
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Rebecca receives around £750 in benefits a month and works nine hours a week as a carer. She is paid the minimum wage and also tops up her income with a part-time job in hospitality, but the hours vary.
Her biggest outgoing is her £350 rent. She also struggles to pay for the costs of public transport to get to and from work.
Rebecca said: “I either get the bus or I use electric bikes via a local hire firm. Other days, I will walk.
“To save on water bills, I have short showers and only wash the dishes three times a week. I’ve put a device in my cistern so it uses a quarter of the water it should.
“This credit squeeze means you don’t have spare money.”
Q & A
Q: HOW can I continue to save money on heating and energy?
A: Tashema Jackson, energy expert at , says: “We lose around 25 per cent of the warmth in our home to draughts.
Octopus will loan customers a thermal imagery camera, so you can spot where the cold air is coming from and you can then plug the gap with a draught- proofing kit from your local DIY shop.
Octopus has a fund for families struggling to pay their bills. Log in to your account and fill out this form: .”
Q: HOW can I save money getting to and from work?
A: Consumer expert Martyn James says: “Firstly, check to see if your employer is signed up to the ‘cycle to work’ scheme for discounts on bikes.
“Norwich Council has a ‘Go4Less scheme’ for people on low incomes. You can get 50 per cent off travel and leisure activities.”
